Horse rescued in Mills River

The Mills River Fire Department rescued a horse that slipped off an eroded embankment and got wedged between two trees near the Mills River on Saturday afternoon.

The department was dispatched at noon to a farm owned by Clifford Bencivenga just off Williamston Road, and Bencivenga's friends and neighbors also pitched in to help.

The horse was stuck just inches from the water, and his body temperature was dropping. Veterinarian Vicky Bochynek came to scene and assisted, sedating the horse before the rescue to avoid further injuries.

Firefighters made a cradle out of some straps and lifted the horse with a track hoe that a local contractor had nearby.

Fire Chief Rick Livingston said the horse needed veterinary attention once it was out of danger, “but when we left, he was walking and doing great,” he said.

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